Chapter 13 Chapter 12 Mountain Form

As we have said before, the projectile is gradually approaching the northern hemisphere of the moon.It would have reached the center of the disk if it hadn't been irremediably veered off course, but that center was now far from the three travelers. It is now half past midnight.Barbicane estimated their distance from the lunar surface to be about fourteen hundred kilometers, a distance somewhat greater than the radius of the Moon, but probably still less as they advanced towards the North Pole.The projectile had crossed the equator, and reached the tenth degree of latitude north, from which they had carefully marked on their charts of the moon, to the north pole, where Barbicane and his two companions could observe the moon under the best conditions. .

In fact, with a telescope, the distance of fourteen hundred kilometers can be reduced to fourteen kilometers, or four and a half leagues.The Rocky Mountain telescope was able to zoom in on the Moon even closer, but the Earth's atmosphere greatly weakened the power of this optical instrument.Barbicane, therefore, holding up a telescope in his projectile, was able to see details scarcely visible to observers on Earth. "My friends," said the president of the club now in a solemn voice, "I don't know how far we're going, or whether we'll ever see the earth again. But we must now work as if the work There will always be something useful to our kind. We should put aside all worries. We are astronomers. This projectile is the space observatory of the Cambridge Observatory. Let us observe."

Having said that, the precise observation work began, and they faithfully mapped the various conditions of the lunar surface according to the changing distance between the projectile and the celestial body. When the cannonball reached the tenth parallel north, it seemed to be going straight along the twenty degrees east longitude. Here, the lunar map used for observation must be explained in detail.On the map of the moon, because the objects in the telescope are always reflected, the south is up and the north is down. At the same time, because of the reflection, it is natural that the east is on the left and the west is on the right. However, this does not matter. If the lunar surface The map is turned over, just like the moon we see with the naked eye, the east is on the left and the west is on the right, which is exactly the opposite of the map. This is the reason why this abnormal phenomenon exists. The observer stands in the northern hemisphere, if you If you want, even in Europe, they will see the moon to the south of them. When they observe, their backs are facing the north, which is completely opposite to their posture when looking at the map. Because the backs are facing the north, it is natural to be east. On the left, the west is on the right. However, if the observer stands in the southern hemisphere, say, in Patagonia, then the west of the moon is naturally on their left and the east is on their right, because the south is behind them.

These are the two main orientations of the lunar surface reflection map, and they are also issues that we must pay attention to at all times when we observe Chairman Barbican.With the help of Bill and Maderell's map of the lunar surface, the three travelers were able to identify without hesitation the part of the moon that was within the field of view of the telescope. "What place are we seeing now?" Michelle asked. "It's a place north of the Sea of ​​Clouds," answered Barbicane. "We are too far away to be able to determine its nature. Are these plains composed of dry fine sand, as the earliest astronomers maintained? Could it be, as Mr. Warren de La Rue said? So, is it just an endless forest? Mr. Warren de La Rue believes that the moon's atmosphere is very thin, but the molecules of the air are very dense. We will soon know about this issue. Before we have the right to affirm, we have nothing Don't be sure."

On the lunar map, the edge of the "sea of ​​clouds" is not clear. Some people assume that this vast plain is composed of magma spewed out of the three craters of Ptolemy, Pilbak and Hazacher not far to the right of it.However, as the projectile moved forward, it became more and more apparent that it was approaching this area, and many peaks soon appeared to the north of Yunhui.A radiant mountain stands in front of it, so magnificent that it seems to be invisible under the shining sunlight. "What kind of mountain is this?" Michelle asked. "This is Mount Cozini."

Mount Copernicus is located at 9 degrees north latitude and 20 degrees east longitude, 3438 meters above the surface of the moon.This mountain is well visible from Earth, so it can be studied very well by astronomers, especially during the last quarter and new moon phases of the Moon; for at this time it leaves a long shadow, its height can be measured. Apart from Mount Tycho in the southern hemisphere, Mount Copernicus alone forms the largest luminous system. 'It protruded from the "Sea of ​​Storms", like a huge lighthouse, its brilliant light illuminated the two seas.On this lunar plain, its long beam of light is dazzling, crossing the nearby mountains and stretching to the "Sea of ​​​​Rain", which can be called the first wonder in Daxia.At one o'clock in the morning on Earth, the projectile acts like a balloon launched into the sky.Overlooking this gorgeous mountain.

Barbicane could now see the main situation on Copernicus.This is one of the first-class craters on the moon.It also, like Keple and Aristarchus, which loom over the "Sea of ​​Storms," ​​sometimes appears as a bright dot on the gray moon, and is therefore thought to be an active volcano.In fact, it is like all the volcanoes on this side of the moon, but it is an extinct volcano.The crater is about 22 miles in diameter.The traces of the eruption of Lici volcano can be seen from the telescope, and the surrounding area seems to be covered with fragments of volcanic rocks. Such fragments can also be found inside the crater.

"There are many kinds of craters on the surface of the moon," Barbicane said. It is obvious that Mount Copernicus belongs to the radiation volcano. If we get closer, we can see many cones standing like hedgehogs inside. Each cone was formerly a caldera.The moon has a strange feature, and without exception, the interior of all craters is lower than the plains outside, which is completely different from the craters on the earth.Therefore, the diameter of the sphere drawn from the curvature of the bases of these craters is always somewhat smaller than that of the Moon" "Why is there such a characteristic?" asked Nicholl.

"I don't know," answered Barbicane. "How majestic the shape of this radiance!" Michelle couldn't help admiring. "It's hard to imagine anyone with a better view!" "If by chance," answered Barbicane, "we were in the southern hemisphere, what would you say?" "Hey! Then I'm going to say it's even more beautiful than here:" Michelle Adam replied At this time, the projectile flew to the center of the crater.Copernicus forms an almost perfect circle around it, sharply outlined by its sheer ramparts.We can even see double rings.All around was a gray plain, desolate and desolate, with yellow spots on the raised parts.Inside the crater, two or three round craters suddenly flickered, like gems hidden in a jewelry box suddenly emitting dazzling light.The lower wall to the north is probably the crater's exit.

Passing over the surrounding plain, Barbicane pointed out a number of insignificant mountains, one of which was a crater called Gay-Lussac, only twenty-three kilometers in diameter.To the south is a flat plain, without a hill, not even a mound.On the north side, it is just the opposite. Until the border with the "Sea of ​​Storms", it is almost like a sea hit by a hurricane. .The many long beams of light radiating from the peak of Mount Copernicus shone on this plain, illuminating it in every direction.Several of the beams were thirty kilometers wide, almost unmeasurable in length.

The source of this marvelous light was discussed by the three travelers, who were no better than the observers on Earth, and none of them could explain the nature of this light. "What is the reason for this?" said Nicholl, "maybe these rays are just ridges that strongly reflect the sun's rays?" "No," replied Barbicane, "if that is the case, the ridges In a certain situation many shadows are left. But here there are no shadows." The truth is that this light only appears when the daytime object is opposite the Moon, but is invisible when the sun's rays are oblique. "About this light beam problem, can no one explain it?" Michel asked, "Because I don't believe that this problem can stump those scientists!" "Yes," replied Barbicane, "Herschel has made an opinion, but he is not sure." "That's all right. What did he say?" "He said he thought the rays might be streams of cooled lava that glowed brightly in the direct sunlight. Maybe they were, but nothing was certain, except that if we passed near Mount Tycho, The cause of the beam can be better studied." "Do you know, my friends?" said Michel, "what does this plain look like to us from above?" "I don't know," Nicholl replied. "All these spindles of lava are like a game stick thrown there at random, as far as I'm concerned. All it takes is a hook to pull them out one by one." "Be serious, please!" said Barbicane. "It's serious," Michel replied calmly. "Okay! Let's not talk about game sticks, we assume that these are the bones of dead people. Then, this plain is a vast and boundless home of thousands of people, where a thousand generations of children have been laid. The remains of the vanished moonmen. Do you like this lurid metaphor?" "It's about the same," answered Barbicane. "Then you'll be in trouble! Damn it!" said Michelle. "My dear friend," replied the practical Barbicane, "what is the use of knowing what they look like, before we know what they are?" "Well said!" Michelle exclaimed. "Your words remind me how I should reason with scientists!" At the same time, the projectile was still moving along the lunar surface at almost the same speed.It is not difficult to imagine that, among the three travelers, no one thought of rest.The lunar landscape was changing every minute, slowly escaping from their field of vision.At about one-thirty in the morning, they saw the peak of another mountain range.Barbicane looked at the map of the moon and recognized Mount Erastena. This is one of the innumerable craters on the earth's satellite, 4,500 meters high.Referring to this question, Barbicane told his friends that Kepler had once raised a curious opinion about the pseudo-formation of these craters.According to the famous mathematician, these crater-shaped cavities may have been dug by the hands of lunar people. "What's their purpose?" Nicholl asked. Their purpose is also very natural! answered Barbicane. "The lunar men carry out this gigantic work, and dig these endless caves, in order to escape the rays of the sun which, for fifteen days in succession, blaze upon their heads." " "They're not stupid, these moonmen!" said Michel. "What a strange idea!" replied Nicholl. "However, it is very likely that Kepler did not know how big these craters were, because digging these holes is a huge project, and the lunar people simply cannot do it!" "Why can't it be done, because the weight of objects on the surface of the moon is only one-sixth of that on the earth," Michel said. "But what if the lunar man is only one-sixth our size?" Nicholl retorted him. "What if there were no moonmen?" added Barbicane.One sentence ends the debate. Not long after, before the projectile Hugh had time to approach a suitable spot for close observation, Mount Eratosthene was hidden "to the horizon" and disappeared. dividing line. Most of the moon's famous mountains are located in the northern hemisphere.There are, however, several notable mountain ranges in the southern hemisphere. The following is a list of lunar mountains arranged in order from just to north, and indicate the latitude and height of the main peak: Mount Dorfair... 84" south latitude, 7603 meters high Mount Laishinitz...65" south latitude, 7600 meters high Mount Luke……20” to 30” south latitude, 1600 meters high Altai Mountains... 17 to 28" south latitude, 4047 meters high Andes... 10" to 20" south latitude, 3898 meters high Pyrenees…8” to 18” south latitude, 3631 meters high Ural Mountains...5" to 13" south latitude, 838 meters high Mount Arambell… 4 to 10" south latitude, 5847 meters high Mount Hermus... 8" to 21" north latitude, 2021 meters high Carbayu Mountain...15" to 19" north latitude, 1939 meters high Apennines... 14" to 27" north latitude, 5501 meters high Quanniu Mountain……21” to 28” north latitude, 2746 meters high Rife Mountain………25” to 33” north latitude, 4171 meters high Ore Mountain...17" to 29" north latitude, 1170 meters high Caucasus Mountains...32 to 41"N, 5567m high The Alps…42 to 49" N, 3617 m high The most important of these many ranges is the Apennines, stretching for a hundred and fifty leagues, though not as long as those on the earth.The Apennines drag down along the eastern edge of "Yuhui", and the north is the Carbayu Mountains, which are about 100 fields long. It is impossible for travelers to see the main peak of the Apennines, since it stretches from ten degrees west to sixteen degrees east longitude: but the Carpathians, which stretch from eighteen degrees east longitude to thirty degrees east, happen to fall within their field of vision. ri, so they could record the distribution of the range.